Chipotle Adding On-site Solar to 75 Restaurants

Burrito chain Chipotle Mexican Grill plans to install solar panels atop 75 restaurants over the next year. In total, the panels should produce about 500 kilowatt hours of electricity, which Chipotle says will make it the largest direct producer of solar in the restaurant industry, according to a press release.

Houston-based Standard Renewable Energy is installing the panels. Chipotle locations in Denver, Dallas, San Antonio and Austin, Texas, are among those to receive the panels.

The restaurant is prioritizing installation of solar panels based on a restaurant’s electricity consumption, local utility solar rebates and access to direct sunlight.

The solar panels are intended to reduce reliance on conventional electricity during peak operating hours, from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Chipotle estimates the solar panels will help eliminate more than 41 million pounds of CO2 emissions.